For years and years, dinner time in the United States meant sitting around the kitchen table with your family, and enjoying a meal together. It seemed that eating off of a nice dinner set with a plate, knife, fork, spoon, glass, napkins and a centerpiece, was a ritual that was performed every night. Alas, it's a far rarer event these days, but it's still a great way to enjoy some great conversation, and welcome in the evening hours.
In this article we will go back in time and examine the history behind the humble dinner set. Where did it originate? What are the various types? What are some of the best examples available today? These are some of the things we will be discussing in this article.
The civilizations of the ancient world were characterized by the pottery that remained long after the civilization had passed. When archaeologists were digging around their various archaeological sites they would come across these items, and it's interesting to note that people often valued these items so much that they were buried with them.
Sometimes people will refer to dinnerware as "China". Ever wonder why? It's because years ago dinnerware was made from porcelain, and porcelain making was invented by the Chinese over 1000 years ago. Logical answer, eh? Probably invented by the Tang Dynasty, but the emperors of the Song Dynasty seem to be taking most of the credit for it. Half way through the Song Dynasty, around 1100 AD, the process of porcelain making was being circulated throughout the East. By the time the--00's AD had rolled around, this knowledge had made its way to Europe.
Years ago, importing fine dinnerware from China was a very expensive proposition. Due to this expense, only the very wealthy could afford to own it. The remedy this situation, the Europeans started to create their own "China Factories". They modified the process a bit by incorporating some different clays and other materials. This resulted in a softer China, one that was to have a duller tone than those similar products that were being imported from China. Around 1700 we see another form of China starting to emerge onto the scene. It was called "Bone China", a name resulting from the fact it was a mixture of both porcelain clays and "bone ash".
Today, most of our valuable and yes collectable dinnerware is made from pottery, not porcelain. It's sometimes called "earthenware", and it was extremely popular during the decades of the'50's and'60's.
What's the most widely used pottery today? Stoneware is the answer. If you look around it seems to be everywhere. Check out the stores, the restaurants, the hotels and various homes. It's all around us. Stoneware is made by firing the item at a very high temperature until it's completely solid, and can therefore hold liquids. The process to create Stoneware was developed in the same place as the process for creating porcelain...China, about 3500 years ago. Some of the most collectable pieces of Stoneware in today's world were created in the mid'00's in the Virginia and New England areas of the United States.
So that's it, the history of the humble dinner set. If you would like to learn of our TOP PICKS in this category, please navigate over to our blog. - 30241
In this article we will go back in time and examine the history behind the humble dinner set. Where did it originate? What are the various types? What are some of the best examples available today? These are some of the things we will be discussing in this article.
The civilizations of the ancient world were characterized by the pottery that remained long after the civilization had passed. When archaeologists were digging around their various archaeological sites they would come across these items, and it's interesting to note that people often valued these items so much that they were buried with them.
Sometimes people will refer to dinnerware as "China". Ever wonder why? It's because years ago dinnerware was made from porcelain, and porcelain making was invented by the Chinese over 1000 years ago. Logical answer, eh? Probably invented by the Tang Dynasty, but the emperors of the Song Dynasty seem to be taking most of the credit for it. Half way through the Song Dynasty, around 1100 AD, the process of porcelain making was being circulated throughout the East. By the time the--00's AD had rolled around, this knowledge had made its way to Europe.
Years ago, importing fine dinnerware from China was a very expensive proposition. Due to this expense, only the very wealthy could afford to own it. The remedy this situation, the Europeans started to create their own "China Factories". They modified the process a bit by incorporating some different clays and other materials. This resulted in a softer China, one that was to have a duller tone than those similar products that were being imported from China. Around 1700 we see another form of China starting to emerge onto the scene. It was called "Bone China", a name resulting from the fact it was a mixture of both porcelain clays and "bone ash".
Today, most of our valuable and yes collectable dinnerware is made from pottery, not porcelain. It's sometimes called "earthenware", and it was extremely popular during the decades of the'50's and'60's.
What's the most widely used pottery today? Stoneware is the answer. If you look around it seems to be everywhere. Check out the stores, the restaurants, the hotels and various homes. It's all around us. Stoneware is made by firing the item at a very high temperature until it's completely solid, and can therefore hold liquids. The process to create Stoneware was developed in the same place as the process for creating porcelain...China, about 3500 years ago. Some of the most collectable pieces of Stoneware in today's world were created in the mid'00's in the Virginia and New England areas of the United States.
So that's it, the history of the humble dinner set. If you would like to learn of our TOP PICKS in this category, please navigate over to our blog. - 30241
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